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The Labor Market in the Czech Republic: Trends, Policies, and Attitudes (in English)

Author

Listed:
  • Vladislav Flek

    (Czech National Bank and IES-FSV, Charles University, Prague)

  • Jiøí Veèerník

    (Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague)

Abstract

The Czech Republic is no longer an employment haven, the site of what had been declared as an “unemployment miracle.” What happened? In this paper, the authors gather various statistical and sociological data on employment and unemployment trends, wage development, and workers’ opinions and their labor market strategies, taken from various surveys. In such manner, not only is the history of the Czech labor market over the past decade written, but also the reasons for the deteriorating labor market performance are addressed, and an appropriate policy agenda is outlined. In particular, the authors identify existing labor market rigidities and show that high unemployment here proceeds in an ever-widening gyre, resulting in the emergence of the unemployment trap and benefit dependency. Active labor market policy measures alone appear to be insufficient to deal with this problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladislav Flek & Jiøí Veèerník, 2005. "The Labor Market in the Czech Republic: Trends, Policies, and Attitudes (in English)," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 55(1-2), pages 5-24, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:fau:fauart:v:55:y:2005:i:1-2:p:5-24
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vladislav Flek & Mojmír Hájek & Jaromír Hurník & Ladislav Prokop & Lenka Racková, 2001. "Výkonnost a struktura nabídkové strany [Supply-side performance and structure]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2001(6).
    2. Swati Basu & Saul Estrin & Jan Svejnar, 1997. "Employment and wage behaviour of industrial enterprises in transition economies: The cases of Poland and Czechoslovakia1," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 5(2), pages 271-287, November.
    3. Vladislav Flek & Jiri Vecernik, 1998. "Employment and Wage Structures in the Czech Republic," Archive of Monetary Policy Division Working Papers 1998/03, Czech National Bank.
    4. Boeri, Tito, 1997. "Learning from Transition Economies: Assessing Labor Market Policies across Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 366-384, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Guzi, 2014. "An Empirical Analysis of Welfare Dependence in the Czech Republic," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 64(5), pages 407-431, November.
    2. Dvouletý Ondřej, 2017. "Does the Self-employment Policy Reduce Unemployment and Increase Employment? Empirical Evidence from the Czech Regions," Central European Journal of Public Policy, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 11-22, December.
    3. Renat Butabaev, 2015. "There is no growth without change - policy implications for transition economies," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 11(1), pages 69-84.
    4. Daniel Němec, 2013. "Investigating Differences Between the Czech and Slovak Labour Market Using a Small DSGE Model with Search and Matching Frictions," Czech Economic Review, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, vol. 7(1), pages 021-041, March.
    5. Mr. Martin Schindler & Ms. Mariya Aleksynska, 2011. "Labor Market Regulations in Low-, Middle- and High-Income Countries: A New Panel Database," IMF Working Papers 2011/154, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Wadim Strielkowski & Jan Hněvkovský, 2013. "The Performance Of The Czech Labour Market After The 2004 Eu Enlargement," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 58(197), pages 79-94, April – J.
    7. Jaromír Gottvald, 2005. "Czech Labor Market Flows 1993-2003 (in English)," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 55(1-2), pages 41-53, January.
    8. Jan Winiecki, 2008. "Employment and unemployment in transition: the legacy of the communist past," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 377-390.
    9. Železník Martin, 2011. "Labor Market Regulation and its Characteristics: Comparison Between Czech Republic and Austria," Review of Economic Perspectives, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 93-120, January.
    10. Petr Mareš & Tomáš Sirovátka, 2005. "Unemployment, Labour Marginalisation, and Deprivation (in English)," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 55(1-2), pages 54-67, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    employment and unemployment structures; labor market policy; labor mobility; minimum wage; social and unemployment benefits; wage inflation and differentiation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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